1) Attach a piece of wire on to the pinecones to make a "stem" then wrap the stem with florist tape & mix these "pinecones on a stick" with mums & other "harvest" colored flowers to make a pinecone & floral display...

2) Instead of using flowers, use pine branches. You can spray the pinecones gold, silver or copper, then wire these fancy pinecones on to real or fake pine branches to make a low sitting floral display... (You want a low-sitting floral display when you are eating so you can see across to the other guests at a dinner party).

3) Make a pretty bowl of non-smelling potpourri that includes pinecones & dried flower petals... Then after your dinner party you can add the essential oils for scented potpourri (you don't want scent when there is food present)

4) Using only glue & pinecones, form the pinecones into a cone shape or into a tall Christmas tree-like form, then spray with glitter, metallic paint, fake snow or just leave natural.

5) Make a wreath like you would hang on a door with holly & pinecones by gluing the pinecones & other pretty things onto any wreath-form or a wire hanger that's been bent into a circle then lay the wreath flat on the table with a clear bowl in the center filled with pretzels or any type of dried food like chips or party mix.

* It would look best if the clear bowl fits exactly in the center of the wreath... But make sure to allow several inches for the foliage & pinecones when you decide how large to make the wreath.

---> If you are like me & hate to use candles because of the fire hazard (especially with small children & pets in the house) you can instead substitute floating candles which are much safer, being they are floating on water. Or, use one of the new flickering lights that are made to look just like candles but instead run on batteries & have no flame.

Someone gave me like a large swan with the back open up what I did one year is put pine cones in the dish with different ornaments and it was very pretty. Also my mom used to buy silver and gold spray paint to spray them. Just have fun and use your imagination and good luck. I also tied a red bow on the neck of the swan, it was a great centerpiece.